Sandbar, a startup founded by former Meta employees Mina Fahmi and Kirak Hong, has secured $23 million in Series A funding led by Adjacent and Kindred Ventures. The company is developing the Stream ring, a wearable device specifically designed for AI-powered note-taking rather than health tracking. This funding follows a successful pre-order campaign last year and brings Sandbar's total capital raised to $36 million. The Stream ring features a microphone that remains off by default to ensure privacy. It is activated by pressing a flat, touch-sensitive panel on the device's surface. Users must lift their hand to their face to record audio, a gesture the design intends to signal a private use case. Once activated, the ring can record voice notes, interact with an AI assistant via a companion mobile app, and control media playback such as play, pause, and volume adjustments. Fahmi, who previously worked at CTRL-Labs and Magic Leap, stated that the team spent over two years developing the product before launching it last year. The initial response exceeded expectations, with the first batch of pre-orders selling out immediately and a second batch released to meet demand. Early users report utilizing the device more than 50 times daily for tasks ranging from planning presentations to organizing trips. The company plans to begin shipping the rings this summer. A key focus for Sandbar is refining the software ecosystem to support iterative, multi-turn conversations. Unlike standard smart speakers that execute single commands, the Stream aims to facilitate complex dialogues where users can edit notes or clarify details verbally. Fahmi highlighted that users frequently ask the AI assistant to complete notes they could not finish recording, necessitating a conversational interface. Additionally, the companion app is being developed as a standalone tool for those who do not own the ring or whose device is charging. Sandbar currently employs 15 staff members with backgrounds from major tech companies including Amazon, Google, and Apple. The new funding will be used to double its software and machine learning teams and expand its marketing efforts. The startup aims to evolve its platform beyond simple transcription to enable agentic workflows, allowing users to take action directly from their recorded notes. The wearable note-taking market is expanding with competitors like Plaud and Pebble, which offers a lower-cost ring option. However, Adjacent's Nico Wittenborn believes Sandbar's approach offers a superior form factor that avoids the stigma often associated with tech-focused hardware. By targeting a premium aesthetic and emphasizing privacy through its interaction model, Sandbar positions the Stream ring for broader adoption beyond niche tech users. The company intends to continue refining its web platform and user interface to reduce latency and improve the overall user experience.